Sunday Social: Toulouse celebrations, emotional goodbyes and a presidential buffalo

Jared Wright
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It is time for Planet Rugby’s Sunday Social, your quirky recap of the serious and not so serious talking points from the past week’s action.

We begin in France, where Romain Ntamack scored one of the greatest tries in Top 14 final history to seal Toulouse’s 22nd Bouclier de Brennus.

The Frenchman rose to the occasion when it mattered most, with his celebration giving off serious Gladiator vibes.

That kicked off the wild celebrations in Toulouse as Queen’s ‘We are the Champions’ belted out as fans cheered at the Capitole de Toulouse.

Back to Saint-Denis in Paris, and the celebrations were just as wild in the changing rooms as Antoine Dupont got soaked with champagne with the victors almost dancing in unison.

As is tradition in France, the Bouclier de Brennus got its first beating as Sofiane Guitoune and Matthis Lebel slid across the soapy floor head-first into the prized shield.

Even France president Emmanuel Macron got involved in the celebrations as he downed an entire beer while being cheered on by the squad. We wondered if anyone has been brave enough to call buffalo on the president.

Unfortunately, there must be a loser in every final, and the defeat hit La Rochelle wing Dillyn Leyds hard, who was in tears after the game as he was one of the defenders Ntamack evaded en route to the match-winning score.

Shifting focus to the south and this week, Bismarck du Plessis played his final professional rugby match and was filled with emotion speaking on what lays ahead.

Going Down Under and the Brumbies’ loss to the Chiefs marked the end of an era as ‘Lord’ Laurie Fisher hung up his bucket hat as he retired from coaching.

On the other end of the result, Super Rugby Pacific regular season table toppers, the Chiefs, booked their place in the final of the tournament thanks largely to the efforts of their smiling assassin, Damian McKenzie.

He sparked the attack that led to the try that sealed the result for the Chiefs before delivering this brilliant handshake with Pita Gus Sowakula after the game. Planet Rugby is currently working on a step-by-step guide to replicate this one, but it may take a while.

Staying with the Chiefs and the Super Rugby Pacific socials reminded us of this stunner from 2017.

Mad to think that was the second-best try that day, with Leyds’ outrageous offload taking the cake.

Finally, from New Zealand, imagine rocking up to your local league game on Saturday morning only to see one of the All Blacks best lining up for the opposition. Well that happened this weekend as Ardie Savea turned out for Wellington’s Oriental-Rongotai, AT FULLBACK!

As the club competitions start to wrap up, we are starting to prepare for the Rugby World Cup and with Tonga announcing their squad this week, Pool B is looking a whole lot scarier!

Final post of the week, and you just know that this security guard at golf’s Canadian Open went to the Jamie Cudmore School of big hits!

 READ MORE: Toulouse v La Rochelle: Five takeaways from the Top 14 final as Romain Ntamack seals the win

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